Turkey said Monday it shot down an unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle approaching its airspace over the Black Sea.
The Defense Ministry said F‑16s under NATO and national control were scrambled after radar detected the object. It was later identified as a drone that had lost control. Officials said it was monitored and downed away from populated areas to reduce risk, but did not specify its origin.
The incident came amid heightened security concerns in the Black Sea, where Turkey has warned against escalation and threats to civilian navigation. In recent months, Turkish‑flagged and Turkish‑operated commercial vessels have been hit by missile and drone strikes linked to the Russia‑Ukraine conflict, including attacks near Ukrainian ports.
Ankara has condemned the strikes and called for protection of maritime trade and freedom of navigation in the region.